Nicotine
Tobacco products, which contain the chemical nicotine, are made from the leaves of the Nicotiana plant species. During the cultivation and manufacturing process, numerous chemicals are added to tobacco, many of which are toxic. Smoking is a major health risk, and passive smoking, or exposure to tobacco smoke, is also dangerous. Tobacco smoke contains about 50 carcinogens. Snuff also contains 28 carcinogenic ingredients as well as remnants of pesticides used in tobacco growing. The prevalence of smoking has clearly decreased over the last 50 years, especially among young people. So if you do smoke, please be considerate of non-smokers.
Nicotine from tobacco products reaches the brain in seconds once it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Nicotine raises blood pressure and accelerates the pulse and the effects of tobacco are both refreshing and relaxing. The invigorating and pleasurable effects of nicotine predispose to the development of nicotine addiction. For an unfamiliar smoker, nicotine causes symptoms of poisoning, such as nausea. As the exposure continues, the body becomes accustomed to the effects of nicotine, and the user needs more nicotine to get the former effect. When used regularly, tobacco causes severe physical, mental and social dependence. As the pleasurable effects wear off, withdrawal symptoms such as nervousness, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, dizziness, tremor and depression may occur. The addictive potential of nicotine is in the same range as that of highly addictive drugs.
Tobacco products, which contain the chemical nicotine, are made from the leaves of the Nicotiana plant species. During the cultivation and manufacturing process, numerous chemicals are added to tobacco, many of which are toxic. Smoking is a major health risk, and passive smoking, or exposure to tobacco smoke, is also dangerous. Tobacco smoke contains about 50 carcinogens. Snuff also contains 28 carcinogenic ingredients as well as remnants of pesticides used in tobacco growing. The prevalence of smoking has clearly decreased over the last 50 years, especially among young people. So if you do smoke, please be considerate of non-smokers.
Nicotine from tobacco products reaches the brain in seconds once it is absorbed into the bloodstream. Nicotine raises blood pressure and accelerates the pulse and the effects of tobacco are both refreshing and relaxing. The invigorating and pleasurable effects of nicotine predispose to the development of nicotine addiction. For an unfamiliar smoker, nicotine causes symptoms of poisoning, such as nausea. As the exposure continues, the body becomes accustomed to the effects of nicotine, and the user needs more nicotine to get the former effect. When used regularly, tobacco causes severe physical, mental and social dependence. As the pleasurable effects wear off, withdrawal symptoms such as nervousness, restlessness, irritability, insomnia, dizziness, tremor and depression may occur. The addictive potential of nicotine is in the same range as that of highly addictive drugs.
Risks and impacts
Smoking is known to shorten life expectancy by an average of ten years. It affects almost every part of the body: Smoking is associated with type 2 diabetes as well as lung, and cardiovascular disease. Smoking increases the risk of cancer and cancer recurrence, as well as increasing the risk of cancer mortality. Tobacco tar irritates the bronchi, causing coughing and mucus secretion, and carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen carried by the blood, resulting in impaired performance, malaise, headache and fatigue. Smoking also affects the appearance by thinning, greying and aging the skin prematurely. Smoking can weaken the sense of smell and taste and stain your teeth yellowish, as well as cause bad breath. Smoking increases impotence and affects fertility. In women, smoking can lower estrogen levels. Smoking, including passive smoking, during pregnancy is dangerous for the unborn child.
Snuff and e-tobacco are addictive products whose side effects are not yet well known. When you use snuff, more nicotine is absorbed into the body than when you smoke, and the effect of nicotine is longer. Although snuff is less dangerous for the lungs than smoking, the nicotine load on the body is higher when using snuff, and the lining of the nose and mouth is damaged more than when smoking. Long-term use of snuff increases the risk of mortality and is particularly harmful to women. The use of snuff by the expectant mother increases the risk of premature birth and intrauterine death. The long-term effects of e-cigarettes are unknown.
Reducing and quitting
If you are concerned for a loved one, see this page on Tuntuu.fi and AddictionLink. A one-time decision to quit or even reduce the addictive substance is often not enough - the decision needs to be made over and over again when the craving for nicotine strikes, for example on shop visits, when a routine of buying a nicotine product would be a common practice. Think about the reasons why kicking the habit is important to you. Spend time with your loved ones and try to find new ways of feeling good and excited to help you beat the addiction. Information, help and peer support for smoking quitting and nicotine addiction can be obtained from here, as well as from your own health center and student or occupational health team. You can assess your smoking addiction with this quiz.
Smoking is known to shorten life expectancy by an average of ten years. It affects almost every part of the body: Smoking is associated with type 2 diabetes as well as lung, and cardiovascular disease. Smoking increases the risk of cancer and cancer recurrence, as well as increasing the risk of cancer mortality. Tobacco tar irritates the bronchi, causing coughing and mucus secretion, and carbon monoxide reduces the amount of oxygen carried by the blood, resulting in impaired performance, malaise, headache and fatigue. Smoking also affects the appearance by thinning, greying and aging the skin prematurely. Smoking can weaken the sense of smell and taste and stain your teeth yellowish, as well as cause bad breath. Smoking increases impotence and affects fertility. In women, smoking can lower estrogen levels. Smoking, including passive smoking, during pregnancy is dangerous for the unborn child.
Snuff and e-tobacco are addictive products whose side effects are not yet well known. When you use snuff, more nicotine is absorbed into the body than when you smoke, and the effect of nicotine is longer. Although snuff is less dangerous for the lungs than smoking, the nicotine load on the body is higher when using snuff, and the lining of the nose and mouth is damaged more than when smoking. Long-term use of snuff increases the risk of mortality and is particularly harmful to women. The use of snuff by the expectant mother increases the risk of premature birth and intrauterine death. The long-term effects of e-cigarettes are unknown.
Reducing and quitting
If you are concerned for a loved one, see this page on Tuntuu.fi and AddictionLink. A one-time decision to quit or even reduce the addictive substance is often not enough - the decision needs to be made over and over again when the craving for nicotine strikes, for example on shop visits, when a routine of buying a nicotine product would be a common practice. Think about the reasons why kicking the habit is important to you. Spend time with your loved ones and try to find new ways of feeling good and excited to help you beat the addiction. Information, help and peer support for smoking quitting and nicotine addiction can be obtained from here, as well as from your own health center and student or occupational health team. You can assess your smoking addiction with this quiz.
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